Missionary-Encouragement : 


A 


DISCOURSE, 

DELIVERED 

OS  Wednefday  Evening,  the  1 6th  of  May,  1798, 

BEFORE  THE 

PHILADELPHIA  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 

AND 

THE  CONGREGATION  OF  THE  BAPTIST  MEETING  HOUSE. 
PHILADELPHIA. 

By  the  Rev.  WILLIAM  STAUGHTON , 

PRINCIPAL  OF  BORDENTON  ACADEMY. 


O’er  the  gloomy  hills  of  darknefs, 
Louk  my  foul,  be  Hill  and  gaze ; 
All  the  promiles  do  travail 
With  a glorious  Jay  of  grace. 
Blefled  Jub’lee, 

Let  thy  glorious  morning  dawn. 


Philadelphia : 

PRINTED  BY  STEPHEN  C.  USTICK, 


TO 

The  Philadelphia  Missionary  Society , 

THE  FOLLOWING 

DISCOURSE, 

WHICH  APPEARS  IN  PUBLIC  AT  THEIR  REQUEST, 

IS  VERY  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY 


The  AUTHOR. 


DISCOURSE. 


ISAIAH  LV.  Ver.  12. 

Ye  Hull  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led  forth  with  peace : ihe 
mountains  and  the  hills  (hall  break  forth  before  you  into 
finging,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  (hall  dap  their  hands. 

W HEN  ancient  predictions  of  glory 
to  the  righteous  are  contemplated,  the  habit  of 
beholding  the  impiety  and  infamy  of  the  world, 
greatly  diminilhes  the  rapture  they  are  deligned  to 
.infpire.  We  regard  the  excellent  events  they 
foretel,  as  objeCts  of  delire,  rather  than  objeCts  of 
expectation  ; and,  though  the  faithfulnefs  of  the 
divine  teftimonies  fuller  not  our  languilhing  faith 
to  expire,  when  we  contrail  times  with  prophecies, 
we  are  led  to  place  the  period  of  blelfednefs  at  a 
diflarice  far  remote. 

But  let  us  hope  that  more  diligent  attention  will 
furnifh  ideas  more  encouraging. 

It  is  true,  that  though  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord 
Avail  cover  the  earth,  men  are  perifliing  for  lack  of 
knowledge : having  the  underftanding  darkened, 
being  alienated  from  the  life  of  God  through  the 
ignorance  that  is  in  them,  becaufe  of  the  blindnefs 
* of  their  hearts. 

It  is  true,  the  depraved  paflions  of  the  human- 
foul  are  every  where  revealed.  Iniquitous  policy 
and  mad  ambition  controul  the  aClions  of  nations. 
The  banners  of  war  are  unfurled  ; — fleets  on  the 
ocean,  armies  on  the  fliores  are  meditating  and  at  each 
other  projecting  deftruCtion.  In  the  private  circles 

B 


6 

of  life,  uncleannefs  and  inebriation  prevail.  The 
God  of  heaven  is  blafphetned,  his  fervants  are 
pitied  or  defpifed,  his  holy  oracle  is  trampled  under 
foot,  and  the  great  principles  of  piety,  like  tares  in 
the  harveft  field,  are  declared  pernicious,  and 
induftriouily  rooted  up. 

It  is  true,  mifery  is  every  where  difcernible. 
Difeafes  generated  by  crimes  are  confuming  the 
bodies  of  thoufands,  and  a convi&ed  confcience 
chaitifing  their  fpirits.  The  depopulations  of  peili- 
lence  are  feen,  are  heard  of,  and  widows  and  orphans, 
moving  over  fields  of  daughter  or  to  dwellings  of 
poverty,  are  raiding  their  piteous  lamentations. 

It  is  true, but,  why  ihould  we  amplify  this 

afflicting  detail  ? Though  we  continue  to  fhroud 
mankind  in  darknefs  and  guilt  till  deftruftion  and 
death  fay  “ it  is  enough,”  we  mull  even  then 
remember,  that  the  meafures  of  Providence  are  not 
controllable  by  the  offences  and  calamities  of  men  ; 
that  the  luitre  of  prophetic  truth  cannot  be  concealed, 
and  that  in  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy,  the  groffeft 
darknefs  has  frequently  preceded  the  moil;  marvellous 
light. 

Under  thefe  imprefflons  we  are  about  illuilrating 
this  animating  prediction,  “Ye  ilia.ll  go  out  with  joy 
“ and  be  led  forth  with  peace,  the  mountains  and 
“ hills  ihall  break  forth  before  you  into  finging,  and 
“ all  the  trees  of  the  field  ihall  clap  their  hands.” 

This  paffage  appears  to  have  been  written  about 
the  clofe  of  the  reign  of  Hezekiah.  Prophecies  had 
been  delivered  foretelling  the  certain  and  impending 
diffolution  of  the  houfe  of  David  and  the  captivity 
of  the  people.  After  Hezekiah’s  recovery  from 
iicknefs,  the  king  of  Babylon  fent  to  him  letters 
and  a prefent. — Letters  perhaps  to  make  the  king 
of  Judah  his  ally  in  his  meditated  revolt  from  the 
Ling  of  Affyria,  and  a prefent  or  offering  exprefflve 
of  his  veneration  for  a perfon,  the  fign  of  whole 
recovery  was  the  going  backward  of  that  fun,  he 


7 

had  been  accuftomed  to  adore  as  the  fovereign 
deity  ! Hezekiah,  left  of  his  G^d  to  the  vanity  of 
his  heart,  as  though  eager  to*'  prove  himfelf  a 
dcfirable  confederate  and  a proper  fubjeft  of  the 
honours  he  had  received  from  the  heavens,  lhews 
to  the  meflengers  of  the  fon  of  Baladan  “ the  houfe 
“ of  his  precious  things,  the  filver,  the  gold  and 
“ the  fpices,  and  the  ointment,  and  all  the  houfe  of 
“ his  armour,  and  all  that  was  found  in  his  tr.eafures: 

“ there  was  nothing  in  his  houfe  npr  in  all  his 
“ dominion  that  Hezekiah  fhewed  them  not,” 

But  immediately  after  this  circumftance  Jehovah 
made  manifefl:  the  folly  of  the  prince,  by  foretelling 
the  fate  of  the  people.  Then  faid  lfaiah  to  Heze- 
kiah, “ Behold  the  days  come,  that  all  that  is  in 
“ thine  houfe,  and  that  which  thy  fathers  have  laid 
“ up  in  flore  until  this  day,  fhall  be  carried  to 
“ Babylon:  nothing  (hall  be  left,  faith  the  Lord.” 
To  ManafTeh  the  fucceflor  of  Hezekiah  the  Lord 
fpake  by  his  fervants  the  prophets,  faying,  “ I will 
“ forfake  the  remnant  of  mine  inheritance,  and  deliver 
“ them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies ; and  they 
“ lhall  become  a prey  and  a fpoil  to  all  their 
“ enemies.” 

But  in  wrath  he  remembers  mercy.  Not  more 
clearly  is  the  captivity  of  Judah  foretold  than  her 
glorious  deliverance ; not  more,  her  fin  than  her 
repentance,  her  tranlient  difgrace  than  her  perma- 
nent honour.  Yes,  ye  children  of  Judah,  from 
yerufalem , ye  lhall  go  out  with  weeping  and  be  led 
forth  as  prisoners  of  war;  the  mountains  fhall  mourn, 
the  hills  fhall  tremble,  and  the  trees  of  the  foreft 
fhall  howl  in  fympathetic  woe ; but,  yet,  from 
Babylon , ye  fhall  go  out  with  joy  and  be  led  forth 
with  peace,  the  mountains  and  the  hills  fhall  break 
forth  before  you  into  finging,  and  all  the  trees  of  the 
field  fhall  clap  their  hands. 

The  prophet  foretels  a variety  of  events  which 
were  to  attend  Judah’s  refloration,  well  calculated  to 


8 

awaken  tranfport.  See  yonder  the  welcome  ambaf- 
fador  ! How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the 
feet  of  him  that  brifigeth  good  tidings,  that  publiiheth 
peace; — that  faith  unto  Zion,  thy  God  reigneth! 
Hark!  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the  wildernefs, 
prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  flraight  in 
the  defert  a high-way  for  our  God. 

Hear  the  language  of  Jehovah,  he  fpeaks  to  the 
deep — “ Be  dry,  and  I will  dry  up  the  rivers  to  Cyrus. 
I will  go  before  thee,  and  make  the  crooked  places 
flraight : and  1 will  break  in  pieces  the  gates  of  brafs 
and  cut  afunder  the  bars  of  iron.  For  Jacob  my 
fervant’s  fake,  and  Ifrael  mine  eleCt,  I have  called 
thee  by  thy  name. 

Tot/je  heav&ns  zndearth.  “ Drop  down,  ye  heavens, 
from  above,  and  let  the  ikies  pour  down  righteouf- 
nefs ; let  the  earth  open  and  let  them  bring  forth 
falvation.” 

To  Zion  in  affliction.  “ Awake,  awake  ; put  on 
thy  llrength  O Zion,  put  on  thy  beautiful  garments, 
O Jerufalem  ; ihake  thyfelf  from  the  duft,  arife, 
looie  thyielf  from  the  bands  of  thy  neck,  O captive 
daughter.  No  weapon  that  is  formed  againit  thee 
ihall  profper  ; and  every  tongue  that  fhall  rife  againft 
thee  in  judgment  thoufhalt  condemn.” 

But  is  this  word  of  Jehovah  firm  ? It  is  firm  as  the 
ordinances  of  heaven,  it  is  firmer  than  the  moun- 
tains of  the  earth.  “ For  this  is  as  the  waters  of  Noah 
unto  me  ; for  as  I have  fvvorn  that  the  waters  of 
Noah  fhould  no  more  go  over  the  earth  ; fo  have  I 
fwosn  that  I would  not  be  wroth  with  thee,  nor 
rebuke  thee.  The  mountains  ihall  depart  and  the 
hills  be  removed,  but  my  kindnefs  ihall  not  depart 
from  thee,  neither  ihall  the  covenant  of  my  peace  be 
removed,  faith  the  Lord,  that  hath  mercy  on  thee.” 

- Are  the  expeditions  of  fo  great  a deliverance 
reafonable  ? They  are  reafonable  as  the  expedition 
of  the  rifing  of  vegetation  under  the  iniluence  of 
protecting  fnows  and  refreihing  rains.  “ For  as  the 


9 

rain  cometh  down  and  the  mow  from  heaven,  and 
rcturneth  not  thither,  but  watereth  the  earth,  and 
maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud,  that  it  may  give 
feed  to  the  fewer  and  bread  to  the  eater  : fo  fliall 
my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my  mouth  : it 
fliall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it  fliall  accomplifli 
that  which  1 pleafe,  and  it  fliall  profper  in  the  thing 
whereto  1 fent  it/’ 

It  is  generally  confefled  that  the  prophecies  of 
the  Bible  allude  to  diftinX  and  diftant  periods  of 
time.  That  while  a prophet  announces  the  ruin  of 
the  enemies  of  Jerufalem,  the  deliverance  of  Judah, 
and  the  bleflmgs  flie  lliould  enjoy,  he  frequently 
carries  forward  our  reflexions  to  the  dcflruXion  of 
every  antichrift,  the  eftablifliment  of  the  kingdom 
of  the  Mefliah,  and  the  evangelical  and  immortal 
happinefs  of  his  fubjcXs  *.  Left  the  propriety  of 
fuch  a mode  of  illuftration  fliould  be  difputed,  a lew 
ideas  fliall  be  fuggefted  in  its  vindication. 

The  error  of  rdlriXing  prediXions  to  their  imme- 
diate lubjeXs,  may  be  proved  from  their  fuperiority 
to  the  capacity  of  fuch  fubjeXs.  For  example,  of 
Solomon  his  infpired  parent  faid,  “ In  his  days  fliall 
the  righteous  flourilh  ; and  abundance  of  peace  fo 
long  as  the  Moon  endureth.  He  fliall  have  dominion 
alfo  from  fea  to  lea,  and  from  the  river  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  All  nations  fliall  ferve  him.  His 
name  fliall  be  continued  as  long  as  the  fun.” 

To  aflert  that  the  dominion  of  Solomon  extended 
from  the  lake  of  Sodom  to  the  Mediterranean  fea, 

* The  fubjetf  of  Ifaiah’s  prophecy  includes  in  it  three  diftinft: 
parts.  The  deliverance  of  the  Jews  from  the  captu  ity  of  Babylon ; 
the  deliverance  of  the  Gentiles  from  their  nnferable  (late  of 
ignorance  and  idolatry  ; and  the  deliverance  of  mankind  front 
the  captivity  of  fin  and  death.  Thefe  three  fubjefts  are  fubor- 
dinate  to  one  another  ; and  the  two  latter  are  (hadowed  out  under 
the  image  of  the  former.  They  are  covered  by  it  as  by  a veil ; 
which  however  is  tranfparent  and  fuffers  them  to  appear  through 
it.  Lowth’s  T 'r inflation  of  ffaiah. 


10 


from  the  river  Euphrates  to  the  borders  of  Egypt, 
is  to  affign  but  a mean  fulfilment  to  fo  grand  a 
prophefy.  But  what  mean  thefe  exprellions,  “ abun- 
dance of  peace  fo  long  as  the  moon  endureth — a 
name  continued  as  long  as  the  fun.”  Solomon,  alas  1 
has  flept  with  his  fathers  and  his  very  fepulchre  is 
no  more.  At  midnight  the  moon  ftill  walks  in  her 
brightnefs,  but  war,  captivity,  and  penal  retribution 
have  demoliftied  the  kingdoms  of  Ifrael  and  Judah. 
In  the  morning,  the  fun  ftill  comes  forth  as  a bride- 
groom, but  the  name  of  the  fon  of  Bathfheba  is  not 
known  by  a thoufandth  part  of  the  human  beings 
it  enlightens.  The  prophecy  muft  be  fulfilled — In 
Solomon,  with  all  his  glory,  it  cannot.  Behold  then 
a greater  than  Solomon  here.  It  is  Jefus  only, 
whofe  name  fhall  endure  forever,  and  whom  all 
nations  (hall  ferve;  whofe  dominion  is  an  everlafting 
dominion,  and  his  kingdom  from  generation  to 
generation.  What  flattery  declared  of  Casfar, 
truth  afferts  of  the  Mefliah.  It  is  he  “ who  fhall 
“ terminate  his  authority  by  the  ocean,  his  fame  by 
“ the  ftars  *.” 

The  fcriptural  application  of  fome  prophefies  to 
different  events  and  periods,  induces  us  to  contem- 
plate others  in  the  fame  light.  Of  fuch  an  application 
take  the  following  inftance  from  Hofea  xi.  i.  “ Out 
of  Egypt  have  I called  my  Son.”  This  text  certainly 
refers  to  the  days  of  Mofes,  when  Ifrael  by  a fuccef- 
cdfion  of  miracles  was  delivered  from  the  tyranny  of 
Pharaoh.  It  has  an  allufion  to  the  days  of  Hofea, 
and  feems  defigned  as  a preface  to  a prediction  in 
in  the  5th  verfe  of  the  chapter.  It  alludes  to  the 
days  of  Chrift.  c‘  The  angel  of  the  Lord  appeareth 
“ to  Jofeph  in  a dream  faying;  Arife,  and  take  the 
“ young  child  and  his  mother,  and  flee  into  Egypt, 
“ and  be  thou  there  until  I bring  thee  word:  for 


* Imperium  Oceanoj  famam  qui  terminct  aflris.  Virg. 


“ Ferod  will  feek  the  young  child  to  deftroy  him.” 
Jofeph  was  there  until  the  death  of  Herod  : “ that 
“ it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  fpoken  of  the 
“ Lord  by  the  prophet,  faying,  out  of  Egypt  have  I 
“ called  my  fon.”  Nor  fhould  I conceive  the 
words  at  all  mifapplied,  were  they  produced  as 
illuftrative  of  the  calling  of  finners  from  the  power 
of  Satan  to  God,  or  of  the  church  from  obfeurity 
to  noon-day. 

Predictions  of  this  capacious  nature  are  proper 
both  as  parts  and  proofs  of  a divine  revelation. 
The  fulnefs  they  difeover,  while  it  aftonifhes  the 
faculties,  invites  the  inveftigation  of  mortals,  and 
proves  the  pages  the  production  of  a mind  capable 
of  comprehending  at  a glance  the  part,  the  prefent, 
and  the  future. 

Such  predictions  are  accommodated  to  the 
difpofitions  of  men.  Does  an  infidel  queflion  the 
fulfilment  of  a prophecy?  For  his  plenary  conviction, 
or  that  he  may  be  left  without  excufe,  its  accom- 
plifhment  fhall  be  repeated.  Is  the  impreifion  of 
the  importance  of  a prediction  weak  on  the  mind 
of  a Chriftian,  becaufe  fulfilled  at  a diftant  period, 
or  at  a diftant  place  ? He  fhall  feel  its  grandeur, 
blufh  at  his  error,  and  give  glory  to  his  God,  while 
he  beholds  it  performed  in  the  prefence  of  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth.  If  the  prophetic  morning  ftar 
be  diferedited,  or  the  day  be  declared  far  diftant, 
the  majeftic  fun  fhall  diffufe  univerfal  conviction 
and  reproof. 

In  the  government  of  the  world,  in  the  progrefs 
of  redemption,  Jehovah  has  been  pafling  from 
ftrength  to  ftrength.  As  the  ritual  dilpenfation 
was  an  emblem  of  evangelical  glory,  fo  Jewifh 
predictions  embrace  the  falvation  of  Gentiles.  The 
polity  of  the  Jews  muft  neceflarily  have  been 
demolifhed,  becaufe  of  its  carnality,  becaufe  of  its 
reftriCtion.  But  how  admirable  are  the  meafures 
of  heaven  ! Hebrew  prophets  have  been  infpired 


12 

to  foretel  that  the  abundance  of  the  feas  fliould  be 
converted,  and  that  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  fhould 
come.  They  have  been  employed  to  prophecy 
down  the  prejudices  of  their  nation,  and  prepare  the 
way  for  that  glorious  miniftration  under  which  there 
is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew,  circumcifion  nor  uncir- 
cumcilion,  Barbarian,  Scythian,  bond  nor  free : but 
Chriffc  is  all  and  in  all. 

Thefe  obfervations  juftify  the  application  of  our 
text  to  the  times  of  the  gofpel,  and  fuch  an 
application  may  lead  us  to  explain  it  as  illuftrative 
of  the  influence  of  Chriftianity. 

I.  On  Miflionaries  themfelves,  and 

II.  On  the  people  to  whom  their  million  is 
directed. 

The  fele&ed  paflage  may  reprefent  the  influence 
of  the  gofpel,  in  producing  in  the  heart  of  a 
Miflionary  zeal,  tranfport,  and  tranquillity.  “ They 
lhall  go  out  with  joy  and  be  led  forth  with  peace.” 

Superftition  may  fend  her  votaries  inaflive  to  her 
cells ; avarice  may  fit  in  wretched  concealment,  idly 
pondering  over  perifliing  bags ; indolence  and 
infenfibility  may  fold  the  arras  for  Humber,  but 
Chriftianity  is  the  parent  of  attion.  I.iften  to  its 
precepts — “ Work  out  your  own  falvation  with  fear 
and  trembling.  Gird  up  the  loins  of  your  mind, 
be  fober  and  hope  to  the  end.”  Did  competitors  at 
Olympic  feftivals,  fight,  run,  wreftle,  with  all  that 
agony  the  dread  of  infamy  and  the  love  of  renown 
could  infpire  ? Rival  their  ardour*  fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith,  run  the  race  fet  before  you,  wreftle 
with  principalities  and  powers.  The  world  is  your 
theatre  of  aflion. 

Diminilh  its  mifcries.  Be  eyes  to  the  blind,  be 
feet  to  the  lame,  clothe  the  naked,  feed  the  hungry, 
vifit  the  imprifoned,  that  the  bl'cfling  of  him  that  is 
ready  to  perifti  may  come  upon  you. 

Diminilh  its  crimes,  ye  preachers  in  tire  fanfluary  I 
Ye  meffengers  to  the  heathen  1 Prophecy  aliens. 


ye  lhall  go  out  with  joy,  and  he,  to  whom  prophets 
gave  witnefs,  commands  your  zeal.  Our  text  fore- 
tcls  your  fuccefles,  a preceding  verfe  contains  your 
meflage.  Ho  ! every  one  that  thirfteth,  come  ye  to 
the  waters : and  he  that  hath  no  money,  come  yc, 
buy  and  eat ; yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk  without 
money,  and  without  price.  The  great  fupper  is 
prepared.  Go  out  ye  minilters  into  the  ftreets  and 
lanes  of  the  city.  Go  out,  ye  Miffionaries,  into 
the  high-ways  and  hedges  and  compel  to  come  in 
that  the  houfe  may  be  filled.  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  preach  the  gofpel  to  every  creature.  A 
man  qualified  for  the  fphere  of  a millionary  looks 
forth  on  the  fea  of  the  world ; notwithflanding  his 
fears,  and  difappointments,  at  the  word  of  his 
faviour,  he  calls  his  net  and  becomes  a filher  of  men. 
He  is  led  forth  by  a convi&ion  of  the  value  of  a 
foul,  by  the  attraftions  of  divine  love,  by  the 
openings  of  divine  providence  and  by  the  hand  of 
his  fellow  Chriftians.  Are  miflionary  focieties 
eltablilhed  ? he  hearkens  to  their  inltru&ions,  enjoys 
their  patronage,  and  lhares  in  their  addrefles  to  the 
heavenly  throne.  Clad  with  zeal  as  with  a cloak, 
his  faith  fubfhntiating  the  hoped  for  bleffing,  the 
fearing  of  the  name  of  the  Lord  from  the  well,  and 
his  glory  from  the  rifing  of  the  fun  ; he  cries,  I will 
go  in  the  llrength  of  the  Lord  God,  I will  make 
mention  of  thy  righteoufnefs,  even  of  thine  only. 

Chrilfianity  produces  in  the  hearts  of  its  miniflers 
or  milfionaries  the  emotions  of  joy.  They  who  bear 
the  velfels  of  the  fanftuary  with  joy,  may  draw 
wrater  from  the  wells  of  falvation. 

The  faithful  Miflionary  poflfelTes  the  joy  which 
fprings  from  confcious  integrity.  Re&itude  and 
pleafure  are  alfociates.  In  the  tranfgreflions  of  an 
evil  man  there  is  a fnare,  but  the  righteous  doth 
fing  and  rejoice.  We  acknowledge  the  purefl: 
conduft  may  be  aferibed  to  the  bafefl;  motives. 
Though  a Miflionary,  fired  with  love  to  God  and  to 

C 


r4 

man,  fubjeft  himfelf  to  perils  by  Tea  and  perils  bf 
land.  Though  he  pafs  over  toilfome  hills  and 
gloomy  defarts,  his  only  fuftenance  the  berries  of  the 
foreft  and  the  waters  of  the  brook.  Though  he  be 
wet  with  the  fflowers  of  the  mountains,  and  embrace 
the  rock  for  want  of  a fhelter.  Though  like  Jacob 
when  the  fun  is  fet,  he  have  only  the  hones  of  the 
place  for  his  pillow,  and  his  life  be  endangered  from 
wild  beads  or  wilder  men : neither  his  piety,  his 
fortitude,  nor  his  fufferings  can  fecure  him  from  the 
imputations  of  calumny.  But  let  calumny  prepare 
its  bitterefh  accufations.  Term  him,  ye  children  of 
the  wicked  one,  a deceiver,  a fanatic,  or  let  him 
fuffer  reproaches  from  falfe  or  miftaken  brethren  ; 
he  approves  himfelf  a minifter  of  God,  in  much 
patience,  in  afflictions,  in  neceffities,  in  diftreffes ; 
by  the  word  of  truth,  by  the  power  of  God,  by  the 
armour  of  righteoufnefs.  He  is  as  forrowful,  yet 
alway  rejoicing.  Perceiving  that  primitive  mifflon- 
aries  who  were  in  perils  by  the  fea  and  in  perils  by 
the  heathen,  in  wearinefs  and  painfulnefs,  in  cold  and 
nakednefs,  differed  the  moll  cruel  reproaches,  as 
their  follower,  with  them  he  cries,  our  rejoicing  is 
this,  that  in  iimplicity  and  godly  finccrity,  not  with 
flefflly  w ifdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  have  had 
our  converfation  in  the  world.  He  is  a good  man 
and  is  fatisfied  from  himfelf. 

But  not  more  does  he  rejoice  in  the  purity  of  his 
motives,  than  in  the  excellency  of  his  caufe.  It  is 
truth  and  muff  prevail.  Jefuits  have  endured 
exceffive  fatigue,  and  have  cxpofed  themfelves  to 
dangers  and  deaths  for  the  diffemination  of  their 
erroneous  fentiments ; but  the  miffionaries  we 
contemplate  labour  not,  fuffer  not,  that  ecclefiaflical 
thunders  may  terrify  the  heathen,  that  human 
creeds  may  be  impofed  by  civil  force,  that  a crofs 
may  be  worn , that  a holt  may  be  worfliipped.  They 
acknowledge  no  fovereign  over  confcicnce  but  him 
whom  winds  and  fea  obey  ; no  fyftem  of  faith,  no 


x5 

rules  of  conduft  inconfident  with  his  holy  oracles. 
They  go  out  with  joy  while  they  refleft,  that  though 
fuperftitious  zeal  and  literary  artifice,  the  malice  of 
individuals  and  the  perfecutions  of  empire  have  been 
employed  for  its  dedruftion,  the  Gofpel  they  deliver, 
Hands  like  an  awful  column  firm  proof  agaiod  the 
winds,  the  lightnings,  the  earthquakes  of  envious 
ages. — They  addrefs  themfelves  to  their  work 
animated  by  a conviction,  that  the  word  of  the 
Lord  abideth  for  ever. 

The  gofpel  mifiionary  goes  out  with  the  joy  which 
fprings  from  benevolence.  Good  will  towards  men, 
enters  into  the  foul  of  the  gofpel.  Through  all  the 
word  of  God  a felfifh  temper  is  forbidden — We 
mult  do  good  and  communicate.  None  of  us  liveth 
to  himfelf,  none  of  us  dieth  to  himfelf.  Miflionaries 
are  commonly  fent  among  nations  who  have  changed 
the  glory  of  the  incorruptible  God  into  an  image 
made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to  birds,  four- 
footed  beads,  and  creeping  things.  His  fpjrit,  like 
the  apodle’s,  is  dirred  up  within  him,  while  he 
perceives  cities  and  kingdoms  wholly  given  to 
idolatry.  There  he  views  a fellow  creature  doing 
homage  to  a tree,  and  yonder  another  Hands  adoring 
a river.  In  one  place,  fifties  are  aflembled  to  worfhip 
a rat,  a hawk,  a crocodile,  or  a beetle.  In  another, 
hundreds  are  venerating  a cow,  a frog,  a ferpent, 
or  a done.  Does  the  good  man  go  out  in  the 
evening,  his  eye  affe&eth  his  heart  while  he  fees 
multitudes  blefling  the  moon  as  the  queen  of  heaven, 
and  the  dars  as  her  attending  armies.  In  the 
morning,  not  like  Ezekiel,  only  in  vifion,  he  beholds 
men  with  their  faces  toward  the  ead  worfhipping  the 
fun.  He  finds  himfelf  among  a people,  who,  as  the 
natural  confequence  of  their  depraved  conceptions 
of  the  deity,  are  full  of  unrighteoufnefs,  fornication, 
wickednefs,  covetoufnefs,  malicioufnefs ; full  of 
envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit,  malignity,  Rom, 
i.  29. 


1 6 

Nor  does  he  in  the  affli&ion  of  his  foul  behold 
only  the  crimes  of  heathen  nations,  he  hath  feen  and 
can  bear  witnefs  that  their  forrows  are  multiplied 
that  feek  after  another  God.  The  fword,  the 
peftilence,  the  noifome  beaft,  and  the  famine, 
frequently  fpread  defolation  over  an  idolatrous  land. 
Heathens,  confcious  of  guilt,  apprehenfive  of  danger, 
and  ignorant  of  the  way  in  which  fin  can  be 
removed,  feek  mental  eafe  in  corporal  torture.  It 
is  from  hence,  the  horrible  pra&ices  of  torturing, 
burning,  drowning,  and  facrificing  human  beings 
have  taken  their  rife. — Though  enormities  fo  grofs 
as  thefe  we  have  named  do  not  obtain  among 
American  Indians,  yet  there  are  evils  among  them, 
fome  of  which  we  (hall  name  before  we  clofe  our 
difcourfe,  which  loudly  call  for  our  pity  and  zeal. 

But  O how  delightful  the  work  to  fupprefs  thefe 
fins  and  calamities ! How  fuited  to  the  feelings  of 
the  heart  in  which  the  love  of  God  is  lhed  abroad  ! 
Is  ‘ joy  a delight  of  the  mind,  from  the  confideration 
4 of  the  prefent  or  affured  approaching  poffeffion  of  a 
4 good  ?’  The  miffionary  of  Jefus  then  goes  out 
with  joy.  He  rejoices  in  prefent  good — Such  is 
the  poffeffion  of  the  grace  of  God  in  his  own  heart, 
the  being  invefled  with  the  office  of  a teacher  of 
the  ignorant,  and  the  lhare  he  enjoys  in  the  prayers 
of  his  fellow  Chriftians.  But  his  heart  is  infpired 
with  a facred  enthufiafm  while  he  contemplates  the 
good,  of  the  approach  of  which  he  is  fo  well  allured. 
He  goes  out  with  promifes  of  fupport.  I,  the  Lord 
thy  God  will  hold  thy  right  hand,  faying  unto  thee, 
Fear  not,  1 will  help  thee.  I will  make  thee  a new 
lharp  threlhing  inftrument  having  teeth  : thou  (halt 
threffi  the  mountains  and  beat  them  frnall,  and  lhalt 
make  the  hills  as  chaff,  and  thou  lhalt  rejoice  in  the 
Lord  and  lhalt  glory  in  the  God  of  Ifrael.  I have  put 
my  words  in  thy  mouth,  and  have  covered  thee  in 
the  lhadow  of  my  hand,  that  I may  plant  the  heavens, 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  the  earth,  and  fay  unto 


*7 

Zion,  thou  art  my  people — Lo  I am  with  you  alway, 
even  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

He  goes  out  with  profpe&s  of  fuccefs.  Whatever 
degree  of  bleffmg  may  attend  particular  millions,  it 
is  certain  that  the  goi'pel  of  the  kingdom  (hall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world  for  a witnefs  unto  all 
nations.  The  Meffiah  has  alked  and  has  received 
the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermofl: 
parts  of  the  earth  for  his  poffellion.  The  heroes  of 
antiquity  were  filled  with  tranfport  at  the  ambiguous 
anfwers  of  the  oracle  of  Delphos.  Favourable 
refponfes  from  the  gloomy  cavern  of  Trophonius, 
would  render  the  credulous  Grecian  fearlefs  in  the 
midlf  of  the  mod  dreadful  danger.  An  American 
Indian,  relying  on  the  friendly  dreams  of  a footh- 
fayer,  goes  forth  to  war  with  all  the  confidence  of 
fuccefs.  But  how  infinitely  greater  is  the  encourage- 
ment of  a man  of  God.  He  credits  no  dreamer  of 
dreams.  He  believes  in  the  Lord  his  God  and  is 
eftablilhed.  I have  not  fpoken,  faith  Jehovah,  in 
fecret,  in  a dark  place  of  the  earth  : I the  Lord  fpeak 
righteoufnefs : I give  direct  anfwers. — The  promifes 
in  Chrift  are  yea  and  amen.  When  Jefus  was 
about  to  be  feparated  from  his  difciples,  and  was 
commiffioning  them  to  publilh  his  gofpel,  having 
given  them  promifes  of  fupport  and  profpe&s  of 
fuccefs,  he  faid,  thefe  things  have  I fpoken  that  my 
joy  might  remain  in  you,  and  that  your  joy  might 
be  full. 

Ye  fhall  go  out  with  joy  and  be  led  forth  with 
peace.  The  difciples  of  Jefus  poffefs  peaceful 
difpoiitions.  Pride,  obftinacy,  and  feverity,  are 
frequently  charged  on  the  profeffors  of  Chriftianity. 
If  the  charge  be  true,  the  guilt  is  wholly  their  own. 
Ignorance  may  be  proud,  bigotry  may  be  obflinate, 
and  malice  may  be  fevere  ; but  the  gofpel  is  defigned 
to  make  the  ignorant  wife,  and  the  ill-natured 
gentle.  It  teaches  us  to  put  off  as  a fliameful 


i8 

covering,  all  anger,  wrath,  and  malice,  and  to  put 
on,  as  our  faired  drefs,  bowels  of  mercies,  kindnefs, 
longfuffering. 

Miflionaries  go  forth  with  peaceful  meflages. 
With  angels  they  proclaim,  on  earth  peace.  Theirs 
is  the  word  which  God  fent  unto  the  children  of 
Ifrael,  preaching  peace  by  Jefus  Chrid. 

Mahomet,  for  the  propagation  of  his  religion, 
encouraged  his  followers  to  make  profelytes  by  force 
of  arms.  Thefe  are  his  words  in  the  Koran,  “ When 
“ ye  encounter  unbelievers  drilce  off  their  heads.” 
— “ As  for  thofe  who  fight  in  the  fervice  of  God’s 
“ true  religion,  God  will  not  differ  their  work  to 
“ perifh,  he  will  lead  them  into  paradife.”  How 
different  the  words  of  the  Prince  of  Peace!  Put  thy 
fword  into  the  fheath,  faid  he  to  Peter,  and  imme- 
diately touched  and  healed  the  man  whofe  ear  Peter 
had  cut  off.  Jefus  anfwered  to  Pilate,  If  my  king- 
dom were  of  this  world,  then  would  my  fervants 
fight,  that  I diould  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews ; 
but  now  is  my  kingdom  not  from  hence. 

Of  fuch  who  deviate  from  the  Arabian  religion, 
the  falfe  prophet  fays,  “ kill  them  wherever  ye  find 
<c  them  but  when  our  Lord  fird  fhewed  himfelf 
after  his  refurreftion  to  the  difciples  who  in  the 
hour  of  darknefs  had  all  forfook  him  and  fled,  he 
faid,  Peace  be  unto  you  ; as  my  father  hath  fent 
me  fo  fend  I you. 

But  peaceful  as  are  the  difpofitions  and  meflages 
of  the  propagators  of  the  gofpel,  they  have  often 
been  charged  with  feditious  defigns.  Guilt  has 
turned  the  moral  world  upfide  down.  It  refembles 
an  inverted  pyramid,  which  only  the  longfuffering 
hand  of  God  prevents  from  falling  into  awful  ruin. 
When  the  apodles  by  manifedation  of  the  truth, 
by  revealing  one  mighty  to  fave,  were  delirous  of 
placing  the  fearful  pyramid  on  its  balls,  the  Jews 
of  Theffalonica  cried,  thefe  that  have  turned  the 


l9 

World  npfide  down  are  come  hither  alfo,  thefe  all 
do  contrary  to  the  decrees  of  Csefar.* 

There  is  a fenfe  in  which  Chriil  himfelf  came  not  to 
fend  peace,  but  a fword;  the  difciples  are  imitators  of 
him.  They  go  forth  armed  to  deftroy  that  peace  of 
the  world,  by  which  men  engage  not  to  difturb  each 
others  quiet  in  the  way  to  hell.  Peace  without 
righteoufnefs  is  but  a dead  calm,  before  a defolating 
tornado.  Peace,  peace,  to  him  that  is  far  off  and 
to  him  that  is  near,  faith  the  Lord,  and  I will  heal 
him.  But  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  fea, 
when  it  cannot  reft.  Tremble  ye  Herods  of  the 
earth  ; vociferate  ye  Demetriuses ; your  thrones, 
your  Ihrines  are  in  danger.  Not  becaufe  Ihrines  and 
thrones  are  delired  by  the  fervants  of  the  mod  high 
God,  but  becaufe  your  thrones  are  founded  in 
blood  ; your  flirines  are  but  polifhed  blafphemy. 
Jehovah  appears  as  the  God  of  peace,  when  he 
bruifes  Satan  beneath  the  Chriftian’s  feet.  Believers 
appear  ftill  as  the  Ions  of  peace,  when  their  preaching 
produces  rage  and  tumult.  Angry  effetts  may 
follow;  but  the  true  end  of  the  fpread  of  the  gofpel, 
is  the  eftabliihment  of  joy  and  tranquillity.  This 
will  be  fully  demonftrated  as  we  proceed  to  difplay 
its  influence. 

II.  On  the  people  to  whom  a chriftian  million  is 
dire&ed. 

While  Miflionaries  go  out  with  joy  and  are  led 
forth  with  peace,  mountains  and  hills  break  forth 
before  them  into  finging,  and  all  the  trees  of  the 
field  clap  their  hands.  In  the  Old  Teftament, 
allufions  to  hills  and  mountains  are  very  frequent. 
The  land  of  Judah  is  called  the  country  of  the  hills. 
Jolh.  x.  40.  Prophets  derived  their  emblems  from 

* In  Cluny,  a city  of  Spain,  there  Hands  a column,  ere&ed 
by  Dioclefian  which  has  this  infeription,  ‘ To  Dioclefan,  Jovius, 
aud  Maximinus,  Ctefars,  for  having  enlarged  the  empire  and  for 
having  extirminated  the  name  of  Chriftians  those  disturbers 
OF  THE  PUBLIC  REPOSE.’ 


20 


furrounding  objects.  Would  they  give  dying 
mortals  a ftrong  idea  of  the  eternity  of  God?  They 
cry  before  his  footftool,  Thou  haft  been  our 
dwelling  place  in  all  generations,  before  the 
mountains  were  brought  forth,  from  everlafting  to 
everlafting  thou  art  God.  Is  a fenfe  of  the  majefty 
of  Jehovah  to  be  imprefled  on  the  hearts  of  the 
people  ? Hills  are  feen  fmoking  at  his  touch.  They 
reveal  him  weighing  mountains  in  fcales  and  hills 
in  balances.  Would  they  exprefs  abundance  of 
temporal  good  ? Hills  flow  with  milk  and  mountains 
drop  down  fweet  wine,  for  the  cattle  and  the  vines 
are  there.  Have  they  to  reprefeut  a ftate  of 
tremendous  defpair  ? Wretches  are  heard  crying. 
Rocks ! fall  on  us,  mountains  ! cover  us.  Would 
they  exhibit  the  end  of  all  things  ? Hills  are 
departing,  mountains  are  not  found.  Does  a jealous 
God  draw  near  to  judgment  ? Who  can  ftand  before 
his  indignation  ? Iiis  way  is  in  the  whirlwind  and 
in  the  ftorm,  clouds  are  the  duft  of  his  feet ; the 
mountains  quake  at  him  and  the  hills  melt ; but 
when  prophets  difplay  the  God  of  falvation,  the 
deliverer  of  his  people,  mountains  and  hills  break 
forth  before  them  into  finging. 

There  is  a ftrange  power  in  the  human  mind  of 
converting  every  thing,  in  imagination,  to  the  likenefs 
of  itfelf.  The  mind  feems  as  capable  of  acting  on 
external  objefts,  as  external  objects  are  of  atting  on 
the  mind.  Does  an  individual  mourn  ? To  him  all 
nature  appears  to  partake  his  forrows.  Does  he 
rejoice  ? Mountains  and  hills  feem  to  feel  his 
raptures,  and  trees  of  the  field  to  clap  their  hands. 

When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of 
Zion,  the  people  were  like  them  that  dream.  Their 
mouths  were  filled  with  laughter,  and  their  tongues 
with  finging.  But  there  was  ftill  greater  occafion 
for  triumph,  than  their  releafe  from  Babylon. 

The  Hebrews  often  afleed,  and  God  often  granted 
figns  from  heaven.  When  our  Lord  was  working 


the  mightieft  miracles  among  the  Jews,  they  were 
impatient  for  a fign.  They  had  conceived  the 
Mefliah  was  to  refcue  them  from  Roman  fervitude. 
Falfe  Chrifts  had  perl'uaded  the  people  to  follow 
them,  promifing  them  miracles  and  figns  of  liberty. 
Unlefs  the  dead  were  raifed,  or  the  ocean  calmed  as 
pledges  of  approaching  victory  over  Rome,  they 
were  conlidered  as  inadequate  proofs  that  Jefus  was 
both  Lord  and  Chrift.  To  the  Jews  no  fign  but 
the  prophet  Jonas  was  given.  No  other  was  needed. 
But  when  an  event  feerned  remote  from  the  promife  or 
the  threatening,  figns  the  moll  finking  enfued.  Eli ! 
this  (hall  be  a fign  unto  thee,  that  tlijre  fhall  not  be 
an  old  man  in  thy  houfe  forever^-  Hophni  and 
Phineas  fhall  die  both  in  one  day.  Hezekiah ! this 
fign  {halt  thou  have  that  the  Lord  will  heal  thee, 
the  fun  fhall  go  backward  ten  degrees  on  the  dial 
of  thy  father.  Ahaz  ! the  Lord  himfelf  will  give 
thee  a fign,  that  the  counfels  of  Rezin  and  Pekah 
fhall  not  hand  : Behold  ! a virgin  fhall  conceive  and 
bear  a fon  and  fhall  call  his  name  Emmanuel. 
Shepherds ! this  fhall  be  a fign  unto  you,  ye  fhall 
find  the  babe  wrapt  in  fwaddiing  clothes,  lying  in  a 
manger.  O Judah  ! thy  deliverance  from  captivity 
is  a token  of  future,  greater  bleffings : it  fhall  be 
for  an  everlafting  fign,  that  fhall  not  be  cut  off,  v.  13. 
Let  us  not  fuppofe  ourfelves,  brethren,  uninterefled 
in  the  refioration  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon.  We 
have  already  jufiified  the  application  of  ancient 
predictions  to  the  difpenfa'ion  of  the  gofpel ; while 
we  perceive  that  their  primary  fulfilment  is  only  a 
pledge  of  their  re-accomplifiiment  in  the  latter  days, 
let  our  faith  be  ftrong  and  our  joy  be  full. 

Wherever  the  glorious  gcfpd  of  the  bleffed  God 
is  circulated,  there  are  glad  tidings  of  great  joy ; 
and  they,  whofe  hearts  receive  it  in  its  power,  are 
excited  to  fing  aloud  of  the  great  faLatiop  i brings. 
There  are  a variety  of  fenfes  in  which  Christianity 
may  be  viewed  as  tending  to  promote  the  happinefs 

D 


22 

of  any  people.  Let  us  contemplate  its  effects,  firft, 
on  men  in  general ; and  fecondly,  on  believers  in 
particular. 

We  know  that  to  an  unbelieving  world,  the 
publifhing  of  the  gofpel  is  folly  and  madnefs.  Far 
from  rejoicing,  modern  infidels,  like  infidels  of  old, 
are  grieved  at  the  preaching  of  Jefus  and  the 
refurrecHon.  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  againft 
God ; but  yet  carnal  minds  derive  many  temporal 
advantages  from  the  very  fyftem  they  abhor.  The 
deftruclion  of  the  tares  is  delayed,  becaufe  the  wheat 
is  yet  in  the  field. 

The  diffufion  of  C.hriftianity  is  a mofl  joyful  event 
in  regard  of  the  reftraints  it  impofes  on  vice.  It 
leffens  the  number  of  vicious  examples.  It  fets 
iniquity  before  men  in  the  mofl  hateful  light. 
Conviction  glares  on  the  guilty  mind,  hidden,  awful, 
unexpected  as  the  lightning,  and  the  finner  trembles 
in  fpite  of  himfelf. 

Contemplate  its  influence  on  idolatry.  Wherever 
the  chriftian  flandard  has  been  planted,  idols  have 
been  broken  and  confounded.  Where  are  the 
deities  of  Greece  and  Rome  ? Who  now  adores  the 
divinity  of  Juno,  or  as  a fuppliant,  places  a facrifice 
on  her  altars  ? fEolus  and  Neptune  ceafe  to  be 
venerated,  fince  he  hath  appeared  who  holds  the 
winds  in  his  fifl,  and  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of 
his  hand.  Pluto  and  Proferpine  are  worlhipped  no 
more  ; the  aflonifhed  idolater  perceives,  that  he  who 
was  dead  and  is  alive  again,  hath  the  keys  of  hell 
and  death.  Venus  the  adulterefs  and  Jove  the 
whoremonger*,  have  fled  before  a religion  which 
declares,  that  whoremongers  and  adulterers  God 
will  judge.  Their  names  are  yet  known,  becaufe 
heathen  authors  are  hill  read  in  chriftian  fchools ; 

* “ Quis  locus  eft  templis  auguftior?  hac  quoque  vitet. 

In  culpam  fi  cjux  eft  ingeniola  fuam. 

Cum  fteterit  Jovis  xde  : Jovis  fuccurret  in  xdc, 

C^uam  nmltas  matres  fecerit  illc  Deus.” 


Ovid. 


but  their  worfhip  is  abolifhed  for  ever ; their 
temples  exhibit  only  broken  arches  and  proftrate 
columns.  The  Dagons  are  fallen,  becaufe  the  ark 
of  truth  has  been  brought  near  them.  Once  he 
who  would  commit  inceft,  he  who  would  indulge 
intoxication,  might  gratify  his  vicious  defires  in 
adoration  of  a god  or  a goddefs,  but  this  pretence 
for  the  propriety  of  vice  is  urged  no  longer. 

The  holy  fcriptures  provide  a perpetual  preventive 
againft  idolatry,  in  the  appointment  of  one  day  in 
feven  for  religious  inflruction  and  worfhip*. 

Contemplate  the  influence  of  Clniftianity  on 
tuitions  at  war  with  each  other.  Since  it  is  the 
tendency  of  the  gofpel  to  eftablifli  peace;  fince,  when 
the  latter  days  come,  in  which  the  chriflian  religion 
(hall  be  univerfal,  the  people  (hall  learn  war  no 
more ; it  may  reafonably  be  expelled,  that  the 
horrors  of  hollility,  in  proportion  as  it  prevails,  will 
be  diminiihed.  Formerly,  the  laws  of  war  were 
rigorous  in  the  extreme;  Chriflianity  has  ameliorated 
them.  Formerly,  confident  that  vaffalage  or  death 
muff  be  the  fate  of  the  vanquifhed,  men  fought  with 
a ferocity  approaching  to  madnefs ; but,  Chriflianity 
has  taught  the  (hewing  of  mercy,  has  eflablifhed  a 
habit  of  exchanging  prifoners,  and  rendered  war  lefs 
deflruftive,  by  making  captivity  lefs  dreadful.  In 
the  prefent  day,  through  countries  where  the  gofpel 
is  not  known,  prifoners  of  war  are  vi&ims  devoted 

* “ If  it  be  examined  into,  how  it  came  to  pafs  that  the  Jews 
were  fo  prone  to  idolatry  before  the  Babylonilh  captivity,  and  fo 
ftrongly  and  caucioufiy  even  to  fuperftition  fixed  againft  it  after 
that  captivity,  the  true  reafon  hereof  will  appear  to  be,  that  they 
had  the  law  and  the  prophets  every  week  conftantly  read  unto 
them  after  that  captivity,  which  they  had  not  before.  And  it 
is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  that  if  this  method  (of  reading  and 
explaining  the  fcriptures  on  the  Lord’s  day)  were  once  dropped 
among  us,  the  generality  of  the  people,  whatever  elfe  may  be  dor«e 
to  obviate  it,  would  in  feven  years  relapfe  into  as  bad  a ftate  of 
barbarity,  as  was  ever  in  pradice  among  the  worft  of  our  Saxon 
pr  Danilh  anceftors.”  Prideaux. 


24 

to  torture  and  death.  The  Indians,  among  whom 
you,  my  friends,  are  defirous  of  diffufing  the  light  of 
life,  afford  a moft  painful  proof  of  this  truth  *. 
May  this  reflection  fire  your  zeal. 

Contemplate  the  influence  of  chriffianity  on  civil 
government.  There  have  been  and  are  bad  govern- 
ments, where  our  holy  religion  has  been  profefled  ; 
but  were  it  abfent,  fuch  governments  would  be  far 
worfe.  The  evils  that  have  attended  political 
adminiftration  in  Europe,  fince  the  reign  of  Conftan- 
tine,  have  arifen  from  the  monflrous  aflociation  of 
the  church  and  ftate.  Ambition  for  the  fceptre 
gave  rife  to  the  mitre,  and  transformed  the  pretended 
defendants  of  humble  fifhermen  into  haughty 
pontiffs.  Chriffianity,  itfelf,  an  angel  of  light,  has 
been  preffed  into  fervices  fuited  to  a dtemon  of 
darknefs.  But  as  this  age  of  revolutions  advances, 
the  vile  abfurdity  of  being  vicious  for  virtue’s  fake 
is  expofed,  and  the  political  union  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  with  the  government  of  the  world  is  generally 
condemned ; for  what  concord  hath  Chriff  with 
Belial  ? 

Yet  even  in  countries,  where  this  unnatural 
connexion  fubfifts,  when  the  Bible  has  been  free, 
for  the  perufal  of  the  people  in  their  native  language, 
governments  have  witnelfed  the  value  of  the  chriff  ian 

* When  Indian  vigors  with  their  captives  arrive  “ at  the 
village  or  camp,  the  women  and  children  arm  themfelves  with 
{ticks  and  bludgeons,  and  form  themfelves  into  two  ranks,  through 
which  the  prifoners  are  obliged  to  pafs.  The  treatment  they 
undergo  before  they  reach  the  extremity  of  the  line  is  very  fe  ere. 
Sometimes  they  are  fo  beaten  over  the  head  and  face  as  to  have 
fcarcely  any  temains  of  life,  and  happy  would  it  be  for  them,  if 
by  this  ufage  an  end  was  put  to  their  wretched  beings.  But 
their  tormentors  take  care  that  none  of  the  blows  they  give  prove 
mortal,  as  they  wifh  to  referve  the  miferable  fufferers  for  more 
fevere  inflidions.  The  prifoners  dcllined  to  death  are  (tripped, 
every  part  of  their  bodies  blackened,  the  fltin  of  a crow  or  raven 
is  fixed  on  their  heads  ; they  are  then  bound  to  a flake,  with 
faggots  heaped  around  them,  and  obliged,  for  the  lafl  time  to 
fing  their  death  fong.”  Carver’s  Travels. 


25 

fyftem.  A member*  of  a national  church  thus 
expreflfes  himfelf.  “ The  efte&s  of  Chriftiauity  have 
been  important.  It  has  foftened  the  adminiftration 
of  defpotic,  or  of  nominally  defpotic  governments. 
It  has  abolilhed  polygamy.  It  has  retrained  the 
licentioufnefs  of  divorces.  It  has  put  an  end  to  the 
expoftire  of  children,  and  the  immolation  of  Haves. 
It  has  fupprelTed  the  combats  of  gladiators,  and  the 
impurities  of  religious  rites.  It  has  banifhed  if  not 
unnatural  vices,  at  lead  the  toleration  of  them.  It 
has  greatly  meliorated  the  condition  of  the  laborious 
poor,  that  is  to  lay,  of  the  great  mafs  of  every 
community,  by  procuring  for  them  a day  of  weekly 
reft.  In  all  countries  in  which  it  is  profeffed,  it  has 
produced  numerous  eftabiilhments  for  the  relief  of 
iicknefs  and  poverty,  and  in  fome  a regular  and 
general  provision  by  law.  It  has  triumphed  over 
the  flavery  eftablilhed  in  the  Roman  empire  : it  is 
contending  and  1 trull  will  one  day  prevail  againft 
the  worfe  flavery  of  the  Weft-Indies.” 

The  fame  divine  fyftem  commands  and  teaches 
magiftrates  to  be  minifters  of  God  for  good.  It 
enjoins  on  men  a faithful  regard  to  the  juft  laws  of 
their  country.  It  expofes  and  condemns  the  fins 
which  are  a difgrace  to  any  people,  and  enforces  the 
righteoufnefs  which  exalteth  a nation.  The  correal 
ideas  of  liberty  and  equality,  America  pofleflfes,  have 
been  drawn  from  this  fource.  It  eclipfes  that 
fplendour  of  the  rich  and  the  mighty,  before  which 
the  vulgar  flirink  into  veneration  and  fervility.  It 
regards  all  men  as  finners,  and  proclaims  a common 
falvation.  It  dire&s  men  of  every  clafs  to  aflemble 
for  worlhip  together,  and  foretels  their  general 
meeting  around  the  throne  of  the  Judge  of  all.  It  is 
now  renovating  the  civil  inftitutions  of  the  earth, 
and  prefaging  the  period,  when  the  kingdoms  of 
this  world  fhall  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord 
and  of  his  Chrift. 


* Archdeacon  Pale 


26 

Contemplate  its  influence  on  agriculture.  It  beats 
fwords  into  plough-fhares,  and  fpears  into  pruning- 
hooks.  It  cherifhes  the  focial  temper  : as  naturally 
as  ftreams  flow  together  into  the  ocean,  real 
chriflians  feek  the  communion  of  faints.  Inftead  of 
roving  far  didant,  each  one,  with  pious  ardour  fays 
to  his  friend,  where  thou  lodged;  I will  lodge,  thy 
people  fhall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my  God ; 
where  thou  diefh  will  I die,  and  there  will  I be 
buried.  With  this  fervour  of  fpirit  it  combines 
diligence  in  buftnefs,  and  excites  that  contemplation 
of  the  works  and  character  of  God,  w ith  which  the 
culture  of  the  earth  is  fo  congenial. 

To  the  abfence  of  thefe  wje  mud  aferibe  the 
appearance  of  prodigious  forefts  in  the  interior  of 
this  country,  with  fcarce  a fpot  devoted  to  tillage. 
Indians  are  fo  frequently  fending  the  red  hatchet 
from  nation  to  nation,  their  paflion  for  hunting 
which  feparates  them  from  their  villages  and 
connexions  is  fo  powerful,  and  fo  great  is  their 
averfion  to  labour  and  contemplation,  that  hufband- 
ry,  the  mod  effential  fupport  of  animal  life,  is  little 
regarded.  But,  brethren,  circulate  the  gofpel 
among  them  ; then,  indead  of  the  thorn  fhall  come 
up  the  fir  tree,  and  indead  of  the  brier  fliall  come 
up  the  myrtle  tree  ; then  fliall  the  wildernefs  and 
folitary  place  be  glad,  and  the  defart  fliall  blofTom  as 
the  rofe. 

Contemplate  the  influence  of  Chriflianity  on 
literature.  We  are  ready  to  acknowledge  that 
learning  contrafled  with  piety  is  trifling,  and  that 
God  hath  chofen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  wife ; but  we  believe  that  while 
religion  proflrates  the  pride  of  pedantry,  it  promotes 
folid  literary  information. 

What  is  literature  ? Is  it  knowdedge  in  languages  ? 
Only  the  volume  of  infpiration  teaches  us  the  origin 
of  their  confufion.  To  be  able  to  receive  and  convey 
ideas  in  feveral  languages  is  fo  far  from  being 


2? 

contrary  to  the  religion  of  Jefus,  that  one  important 
evidence  of  its  truth  is  the  gift  of  tongues.  Is  it 
acquaintance  with  hirtory  ? The  Bible  is  the  molt 
ancient  hirtory,  and  is  fo  full  of  allufions  to  the 
curtoms  of  different  nations,  that  an  able  expofitor 
muff  be  a hiltorian.  Is  it  the  knowledge  of  the  hea- 
vens ? The  man  after  God’s  own  heart  w'as  a devout 
aftronomer.  Bind  the  fvveet  influences  of  Pleiades, 
loofe  the  bands  Orion,  and  then  prove  that  the 
contemplation  of  the  ftars  does  not  influence  to 
humility  and  devotion.  Does  it  confift  in  relearches 
into  nature  ? The  wifeft  of  men  fpake  of  trees ; from 
the  cedar  tree  that  is  in  Lebanon,  even  unto  the 
hyffop  that  fpringeth  out  of  the  wall.  He  fpake 
alfo  of  hearts,  and  of  fowls,  and  of  creeping  things, 
and  of  fiflies.  Our  divine  Lord  refers  us  to  the 
lilies  of  the  field,  and  to  the  birds  of  the  air,  for 
leffons  of  wifdom.  Is  it  acquaintance  with  moral 
philofophy  ? The  New  Teftament  contains  a fyftem 
of  morals,  general  as  the  connexions  of  man,  and 
pure  as  the  chara&er  of  its  author.  Is  it  the  know- 
ledge of  the  belles-lettres  ? Where  are  the  human 
compofitions  which  equal  the  fong  of  Mofes,  the 
pfalms  of  David,  the  prophecies  of  Nahum,  the 
prayer  of  Habakkuk,  the  revelation  of  John,  the 
lermons  of  Jefus  ? 

In  that  fublime  fpecimen  of  ancient  compofition 
the  xxviiith  chapter  of  the  book  of  Job,  the  patriarch 
reprefents  the  miner  as  fetting  an  end  to  darknefs, 
overturning  mountains  by  their  roots,  and  fearching 
out  all  perfe&ion  ; the  ftones  of  darknefs  and  the 
fhadow  of  death.  The  fubterranean  cavity  he  forms 
is  termed  a path  which  no  fowl  knoweth,  and  which 
the  vulture’s  eye  hath  not  feen.  The  providence 
of  Jehovah  is  an  obfcure  profound. 

Deep  in  unfathomable  mines, 

Of  never-failing  (kill, 

He  treafures  up  his  bright  defigns, 

And  works  his  fovereign  will. 


28 

There  is  in  them  a way  which  no  mortal  knows, 
which  angelic  penetration  hath  not  feen.  A proof 
of  this  we  may  derive  from  the  manner  in  which 
the  literature  of  the  ancients  and  the  New  Teftament 
itfelf  were  preferved,  when  the  barbarous  nations 
laid  waft e the  whole  empire  of  Rome,  Conftantinople 
excepted. 

Chriftianity  is  native  wifdom  ; fuperftition  is 
imitative  folly.  Divine  providence  had  prepared 
the  eloifter  of  the  monaftery,  a way  the  vultures  eye 
had  not  feen,  for  the  fecurity  of  monuments  fo 
valuable.  But  it  was  the  fuperftition  of  monks 
which  gave  being  to  monaftic  inftiiutions  ; it  was 
fuperftition  in  the  barbarians  which  made  them 
venerate  the  cell  and  the  temple.  More  than  feven 
fucceflive  centuries  were  ancient  writings  facred  and 
prophane  thus  aftonifliingly  preferved. 

In  the  feventh  century,  Anglo  Saxons  were  as 
illiterate  as  American  Indians,  but  their  converfion 
enlightened  their  minds  and  promoted  the  interefts 
of  literature.  Before  that  event  there  was  no  fuch 
thing  as  learning  nor  the  means  of  obtaining  it,  in 
that  part  of  Britain  which  they  inhabited.  'I  heir 
ancient  religion  had  a tendency  to  infpire  them  v ith 
nothing  but  a brutal  contempt  of  death  and  a lavage 
delight  in  war.  As  long,  therefore,  as  they 
continued  in  the  belief  and  in  the  praflice  of  that 
wretched  fuperftition,  they  feem  to  have  been 
incapable  either  of  fcience  or  civility,  but  by  their 
converfion  to  Chriftianity  they  became  accellible  to 
both.*  You  know  the  application  I willi  to  make 
of  this  circumftance  to  the  people  whofe  converfion 
is  the  objett  of  your  exertions  and  prayers. 

Soon  as  the  gofpel  at  the  Reformation  began  to 
fpread ; foon  as  the  chains  of  fuperftition  were 
broken,  fcience  came  forth  from  her  cave  bound  hand 
and  foot  with  the  grave  clothes  which  the  rude 
manners  of  ages  had  call  around  her.  Then  the 
* ILluflrations  of  Prophecy,  Vo!.  II.  p.  677. 


29 

voice  of  prevailing  truth  faid,  Loofc  her,  and  let 
her  go ! In  the  fame  proportion  as  the  light  of  the 
gofpel  increafed,  the  province  of  learning  was 
irradiated,  and  the  fame  valuable  effeCt  will  follow 
on  its  propagation  to  the  end  of  time.  Thefe  are 
bleflings  which  men  in  general  enjoy  from  the 
diffufion  of  the  word  of  life,  but  there  are  bleflings 
infinitely  fuperior  which  abound  to  believers  in 
particular. 

But  O how  great,  how  numerous  are  they ! Bom 
not  of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flcfli,  nor  of  the 
will  of  man,  but  of  God.  The  joyful  Chriflian  looks 
up  to  the  ruler  of  heaven  and  cries,  abba,  father  ! 
Behold,  faysjefus,  I make  all  things  new ; the  believer 
feels  his  creating  power.  Old  things  pafs  away ; 
his  hopes,  his  fears,  his  joys,  his  forrows,  his 
companions,  his  profpeCts,  all  things  become  new. 
He  looks  over  the  lift  of  his  offences,  and  his  heart 
is  filled  with  confufion  and  deep  repentance ; he 
looks  to  his  fuffering  Redeemer,  and  rejoices  with 
joy  unfpeakable,  while  he  hears  him  fay,  fon,  thy 
fins  are  forgiven  thee.  He  is  bleft  with  accefs  by 
the  new  and  living  way  to  the  heavenly  throne. 
While  a believer  is  lifting  his  cry  and  looking 
up,  Jehovah  is  bowing  the  heavens  and  coming 
down.  He  draws  nigh  to  God;  God  draws  nigh  to 
him.  God  contemplates  and  is  delighted  with  his 
own  perfections ; the  believer  contemplates  in  his 
humble  meafure,  and  is  delighted  with  the  perfections 
of  his  God.  A Chriftian  holds  communion  with 
the  fupreme  majefty.  Laugh  ye  prophane ! employ 
your  railings  againft  the  good  man’s  experience ; 
he  minds  it  not.  If  we  fay  we  have  no  fellowfliip 
with  him  we  lie,  for  truly  our  fellowfliip  is  with  the 
father  and  with  his  Son  Jefus  Chrift.  “ So  the 
moon  holds  bright  communion  with  the  fun  the 
fovereign  planet ; fo  fhe  receives  and  reflects  his 
beams,  fhe  fhines  glorioully  in  a dark  hemifphere 
and  moves  onward,  fublime  in  her  heavenly  courfe* 

E 


3° 

regardlefs  of  all  the  barking  animals  which  betray 
their  fenfelefs  malice.” 

The  fervant  of  Chrift  poflefles  the  pleafures  of  a 
good  confcience.  Why  did  Cain  exclaim,  every 
one  that  findeth  me  fhall  flay  me  ? Why  fmote  the 
knees  of  Belfhazzar  together  ? why  were  the  joints 
of  his  loins  loofed  ? Becaufe  a hand  wrote  he  knew 
not  what  upon  a wall.  Why  did  Herod  on  hearing 
the  fame  of  Jefus  cry,  John  Baptift  is  rifen  from 
the  dead.  Why?  becaufe  the  horrors  of  a 
guilty  confcience  terrified  and  confounded  them. 
But  believers,  exercifing  themfelves  in  the  work  of 
faith  and  labour  of  love,  have  a confcience  void  of 
offence  toward  Cod  and  toward  men. 

The  day  glides  fweetly  o’er  their  heads. 

Made  up  of  innocence  and  love  ; 

And  foil,  and  fdent  as  the  fliades, 

Their  nightly  minutes  gently  move. 

Undifhirbed  by  the  accufations  of  guilt  in  his  own 
confcience,  he  anticipates  with  calm  delight  the 
folemnities  of  the  final  judgment,  jurtified  by  faith 
in  Chrift  freely  from  all  things,  his  fears  vanifli ; For 
who  fliall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge  of  God’s 
eleCt?  God  that  juftifieth  ? Who  is  he  that  con- 
demneth  ? Chrift  that  died  ? He  is  rifen  again  and 
is  at  the  right  hand  of  God  making  interceflion! 

When  afflictions  come  upon  a Chriftian,  he  can 
perceive  they  are  intended  for  his  good,  and  that 
they  are  impofed  by  the  hand  of  his  beft  friend. 
He  regards  himfelf  as  a fellow  fufterer  with  the  long 
train  of  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  Apoftles,  and  Martyrs. 
He  knows  his  afflictions  work  out  his  glory,  his 
light  afflictions,  a weight  of  glory,  afflictions  which 
arc  but  for  a moment  end  in  a weight  of  glory,  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal. 

He  overcomes  the  falfe  maxims,  the  hard 
fpeeches,  and  fierce  refentments  of  an  evil  world,  and 
has  a right  to  the  tree  of  life.  The  hopelefs 
phyfician,  the  throbbing  pulfe,  the  filmed  eye,  the 


3r 

meafured  grave,  the  defcending  coffin,  to  a believing 
mind  are  not  horrible,  they  are  divinely  pleafing. 
Sin,  the  ffing  of  death,  the  worm  of  hell,  is  dcffroyed. 
Let  worms  riot  on  this  body,  this  corruptible  (hall 
put  on  incorruption.  This  earthly  houfe  may  now 
be  demolilhed,  and  it  may  lie  for  ages  uninhabited 
and  defolate,  but  it  lhall  become  a temple  incon- 
ceivably glorious.  When  the  trumpet  founds,  on 
the  refurre&ion  morning,  believers  lhall  fpring  from 
their  tombs,  lhake  themfelves  from  their  duff, 
trample  on  the  broken  powers  of  the  grave,  pur  on 
their  beautiful  garments,  and  rife  in  a cloud  to  meet 
their  coming  Lord.  They  lhall  pafs  the  gate  into 
the  Holy  City,  receive  the  crown  of  life  and  the 
palm  of  vi£tory,  and  join  with  the  harpers  on  the  fea 
of  glafs  in  an  everlaffing  anthem  of  praife. 

Thefe  are  glories  which  are  referved  for  believers 
above;  but  there  are  glories,  which  are  foretold  and 
(hall  be  enjoyed  here  below.  He  is  looking  for  what 
is  termed  the  latter-dayof  glory, when  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord  lhall  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters 
cover  the  place  of  the  fea  ; when,  before  the  miniffry 
of  the  gofpel,  mountains  and  hills  lhall  break  forth 
into  finging,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  foreff  lhall  clap 
their  hands. 

But  may  we  hope  this  bleffed  period  is  nigh  at 
hand  ? We  may.  Are  our  reafons  alkcd  for  our 
indulging  fo  pleafing  an  expe&ution  ? They  are  fuch 
as  the  following. 

Firft,  the  rapid  fulfilment  of  ancient  prophecies. 
There  is  a general  correfpondence  between  the 
writings  of  one  prophet,  and  thofe  of  another  ; but 
the  book  of  Daniel,  and  the  Revelations  of  John 
are  peculiarly  harmonious.  Daniel  exhibits  ftrong 
outlines;  John  a more  finilhed  likenefs;  but  the 
objett  is  the  fame.  Their  predictions  are  Angularly 
explicit  on  the  future  ftate  of  the  chriftian  church. 
— Perilous  times  and  times  of  refrelhing  are  foretold. 
Though  of  the  day  and  the  hour  of  their  arrival 


32 

mo  man  knoweth,  fo  as  to  be  able  to  fpeak  with 
juftifiable  confidence,  yet  there  are  fuch  allufions* 
to  the  period  in  iboth  John  and  Daniel,  as  muft 
powerfully  ftrike,  while  they  ferioufly  employ  the 
pious  mind.  The  time  when  the  powers  of  the 
earth  fhall  be  ftiaken,  may  be  known  in  fome 
meafure  by  the  great  and  vifible  fuppreflion  of  Papal 
Power . Rome  at  the  Reformation  received  a blow, 
file  has  never  recovered ; but,  lately  her  plagues 
have  come  upon  her  with  dreadful  violence.  The 
event  which  has  engaged  the  prayers  of  faints  on 
earth,  and  of  martyrs  at  the  foot  of  the  altar,  is  now 
accomplilhing.  Arrayed  in  purple  and  fcarlet, 
Rome,  the  mother  of  harlots,  fhall  be  drunken  with 
the  blood  of  the  faints,  and  with  the  blood  of  the 
martyrs  of  Jefus,  no  more.  The  angel  has  dallied 
the  millfionc  into  the  waters.  The  beafi  is  exiled  ; 
Babylon  is  falling ; the  horns  are  broken ; the 
merchants  are  weeping ; all  heaven  is  rejoicing. 
Why  Ihould  the  chrifiian  world  be  filent  as  midnight, 
when  the  rays  of  the  morning  are  beaming  upon 
them  ? Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy 
apoftles  and  prophets ; for  God  hath  avenged  you 
on  her.  Rejoice  over  her,  ye  inhabitants  of  the 

* Both  John  and  Daniel  fpeak  of  a time,  times,  and  the  half 
or  dividing  of  a time,  which  period  anftvers  to  the  forty-two 
months,  in  which  the  Holy  City  thal!  be  trodden  under  foot,  and 
in  which  the  ten  horned  bcaft  (hould  enjoy  his  power ; ai  d to  the 
thoufar.d  two  hundred  and  three  fcore  days  in  which  the  two 
witneffes  fhall  prophecy  in  fackcloth,  and  in  which  God  fhall  feed 
the  woman  in  the  wildernefs ; each  intending  in  prophetic  llyle 
the  fpace  of  one  thoufand  two  hundred  and  fi\ty  years.  Did  we 
know  when  to  fix  the  beginning  of  this  period,  calculation  would 
be  eafy  anddecifite;  but  this  is  involved  in  darknefs  . ...  It 
deferves  remark,  that  in  the  year  529  the  Jullinian  code,  the 
bafis  of  ecclefialtical  ufurpation,  was  | ublifhcd,  about  the  fame 
time,  the  power  of  the  Pope  was  declared  fupreme,  and  then  the 
order  of  Benedidtine  monks  was  tourded.  1 260  years  added  to 
this  date  brings  us  down  to  the  year  17S9,  when  the  Aflembly 
in  France  aliened  civil  and  religious  liberty.  Mighty  commotions 
have  followed  and  continue  (till  to  altonilh  the  nations. 


33 

earth,  join  with  the  people  in  heaven  in  faying, 
Alleluia,  falvation,  and  glory,  and  honour,  and 
power  unto  the  Lord  our  God. 

Old  Babylon,  after  the  conquefis  of  Cyrus, 
continued  gradually  to  decay.  In  the  fame  pro- 
portion as  the  llraelites  were  loofened  from  their 
captivity  and  re-inflated  in  the  goodly  land,  the 
pride  of  nations  became  a defolation.  So  we  may 
expeft  that  as  the  church  of  Rome  the  myflical 
Babylon  declines,  the  church  of  Chrifl  the  true 
Ifrael  will  rife.  The  ebbing  of  the  tide  produces  a 
flood  on  oppofite  fliores. 

The  eaflern  as  well  as  the  wellern  Antichrirt  is 
evidently  declining ; the  great  river  Euphrates  is 
drying  up,  and  a way  being  made  for  the  kings  of 
the  eaft ; the  fovereigns  probably  of  Perfla  and 
Tartary.  Enfeebled  by  Ruflia  on  the  north,  and 
above  all  by  its  internal  corruptions,  the  Turkifli 
empire  is  tumbling  into  ruin.  The  figns  of  the 
times  infpire  a vigorous  hope,  that  the  follies  of  the 
Koran  will  foon  be  forgotten,  and  the  mofque  and 
the  brothel  be  known  no  more. 

Our  expectations  are  (Lengthened,  fecondly,  by 
obferving  what  we  fuppofe  to  be  the  harbingers  of 
the  day,  when  mountains  and  hills  (hall  break  forth 
into  fong. 

Perhaps  the  predicted  events  that  attended  the 
deftru&ion  of  Jerufalem,  are  emblems  of  the  general 
deftru&ion  of  vice:  it  is  certain  much  of  our  Saviour’s 
language  in  the  xxivth  of  Matthew,  carries  our  views 
beyond  the  then,  coming  cataflrophe.  Jerufalem 
fliall  be  trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles,  until  the 
times  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled.  If  fimilar  events 
to  thofe  which  preceded  the  ruin  of  the  Jewifh 
polity  fliall  precede  the  overthrow  of  the  anti- 
chriftian  governments  of  the  earth,  their  end  is 
afluredly  not  difiant.  The  trees  now  flioot  forth, 
and  we  fee  and  know,  that  fummer  is  now  nigh  at 
hand. 


34 

Wars  and  commotions  introduced  the  final  victory 
of  Titus  over  Jerufalem*  ; but  at  what  time  has  war 
prevailed  more  deftru&ively  than  at  the  prefent  ? 
Nation  is  rifing  againft  nation,  and  kingdom  againlt 
kingdom.  There  is  now  upon  the  earth  the  diftrefs 
of  nations,  with  perplexity  ; the  fea  and  the  waves 
roaring.  Men’s  hearts  are  failing  them  for  fear,  and 
for  looking  after  thofe  things  which  are  coming  on 
the  earth.  The  ocean  is  burdened  with  fleets 
and  the  fhores  all  noify  with  warlike  preparations. 
The  objeft  of  modern  wars  is  not  the  acquifition  of 
loft  territory,  the  reparation  of  injuries,  or  the 
punifhment  of  infult ; it  is  the  entire  deftru&ion  of 
the  oppofing  power.  When  thefe  things  begin  to 
come  to  pafs,  then,  faith  our  Lord,  look  up  and  lift 
up  your  heads  for  your  redemption  draweth  nigh. 

Did  peftilences  precede  Jerufalem’s  vifitation  ? 
How  much  are  they  now  prevailing  ! We  need  not 
crofs  the  Atlantic  for  proofs.  The  wafting  that 
deftroys  at  noon-day,  has  in  this  city  flain  its 
hundreds.  There  is  fcarcely  a principal  town  in 
the  United  States,  in  which  men  have  not  fallen 
viflims  to  peftilential  fever. 

Were  many  deceived  in  Judea  by  falfe  prophets  ? 
Men  of  this  defeription  are  to  be  found  both  in 
America  and  Europe,  and  their  numbers  arc 
increafing. 

Did  the  flaughter  of  the  Jews  follow  the  preva- 
lence of  grofs  infidelity  among  them  ? When  did 
infidelity  ever  raife  the  head  of  oppofition  againft 
the  truth,  fo  vigoroufly  as  in  the  prefent  day  ? It 
was  common  with  the  Jews  juft  before  their  over- 
throw, to  make  a jeft  of  divine  things,  and  to  deride 
as  fo  many  fenfelcfs  tales  and  juggling  impoftures, 
the  facred  oracles  of  their  prophets ! Such  is  the 
teftimony  of  Jofephus.  Who  cannot  bear  teftimony 
that  at  the  prefent  time,  divine  fubjefts  are  held  up 

* Vide  Jofephus,  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  Edward’s 
Mifcellaneous  Obfervatioos,  & c.  & c. 


35 

to  public  derifion  ; that  Chriftianity  is  termed  a 
juggle  ; that  its  defenders  are  pronounced  impoftors ; 
its  prophecies  abfurd,  and  that  in  the  view  of 
thoufands  it  merits  the  contempt  of  every  philofophic 
mind  ? It  deferves  to  be  well  confidered,  that  fince 
the  gofpel  fyftcm  has  been  introduced,  there  never 
was  a time  when  infidels  were  fo  numerous.  Eccle- 
fiaftical  Hiftory  informs  us  of  the  various  oppofition 
it  has  fuffered.  At  one  time  it  was  oppofed  by 
attempts  to  reconcile  it  with  heathen  philofophy,  at 
another  by  clothing  it  with  the  trappings  of  fuper- 
ftition.  With  a ficklenefs  refembling  king  Nebu- 
chadnezzar’s, men  have  at  one  feafon  declared  its 
enemies  ought  to  be  put  to  death,  and  at  another 
have  martyred  millions  of  its  friends  : but  infidelity 
like  the  prefent  is  no  where  recorded. 

Until  within  thefe  few  years,  infidels  were  few  as 
ferpents  in  a cultivated  country.  Their  chara&ers 
were  concealed  under  the  name  of  chriftians,  and 
their  fentiments  when  publilhed,  occafionally  and 
cautioufly  introduced  in  the  midft  of  a relation  of 
hiftorical  fa&s*.  But  now  reftraints  are  lhaken  off, 
and  men  glory  in  their  unbelief.  The  hoary  finner 
and  the  deluded  youth  unite  to  affert  that  the  religion 
of  Jefus  is  folly  ; while  hand  in  hand  they  practice 
the  vices  it  condemns. 

But  what  means  this  mighty  revolution  in  the 
world  of  feeming  chriftians  ? Are  ye  at  a lofs,  my 
hearers,  to  form  a judgment  on  what  you  daily  fee 
and  hear  ? Let  Jude  inftruft  you  : “ Beloved, 
remember  ye  the  words  which  w'ere  fpoken  by  the 
apoftles  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ; how  that  there 
lhould  be  mockers  in  the  last  time,  who  Ihould 
walk  after  their  own  ungodly  lulls.”  Jefus  hath 
told  us  that  God  wall  avenge  his  own  ele<ft,  he  w ill 
avenge  them  fpeedily.  “ Ncverthc/e/s,  when  the  Son 


* This  was  notorioufly  the  cafe  with  Bolingbroke,  Gibbons, 
and  Hume. 


3^ 

of  Man  cometh  lhall  he  find  faith  on  the  earth  V* 
Shall  he  not  rather  find  infidel  infatuation  ? Peter 
tell  us,  that  “ there  fhall  come  in  the  last  days, 
fcoffers  walking  after  their  own  lulls  and  faying, 
where  is  the  promife  of  his  coming  ? for  fince  the 
fathers  fell  alleep,  all  things  continue  as  they  were 
from  the  beginning  of  the  creation.”  Indeed,  while 
we  indulge  all  that  diffidence,  which  the  nature  of 
prophecy  and  our  fubjeClion  to  millake  require,  there 
is  fuch  general,  fuch  great,  fuch  novel  and  fuch 
various  oppofition  now  made  agaiuft  the  Lord  and 
his  Chrill,  that  we  feel  little  difficulty  in  faying, 
Little  children,  it  is  the  last  time  : and,  as  ye 
have  heard  that  Anti-chrill  fliall  come, even  now  there 
are  many  Anti-chrift’s,  whereby  we  know  it  is  the 

LAST  TIME. 

In  conjunction  with  thefe  remarks,  we  may  obfervc 
that  the  important  improvements  which  of  late  years 
have  been  made  in  fcience,  feem  to  be  opening  the 
way  for  the  introduction  of  the  latter  days. 

The  art  of  printing  has  contributed  greatly  to  the 
illumination  of  the  minds  of  men*.  Books,  the 
grand  medium  of  information,  are  now  widely 
circulated  and  eafily  obtained.  The  labour  of 
tranfcribing  is  no  longer  requifite.  In  each  quarter 
of  the  world  the  Prefs  is  in  motion,  and  will,  we 
trull,  under  the  divine  hand,  prove  an  auxiliary 
mean  of  caufing  the  earth  foon  to  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord.  Improvements  in  natural 
philofophy  have  of  late  been  great  and  rapid. 
Numerous  machines  are  invented  which  leflen 
manual  labour.  The  tilling  of  the  ground  is  better 
underllood,  ealier  effected,  and  far  more  advanta- 
geous. The  properties  of  vegetables  are  better 
known,  and  more  generally  appropriated.  The 
fcience  of  medicine  has  undergone  an  amazing 

* Confcious  how  much  printing  tends  to  diffeminate  knowledge, 
the  Turks  i igoroudy  forbid  it  in  their  empire,  led  it  (hould  produce 
a change  in  their  religion  and  government. 


37 

revolution.  The  difeafes  of  the  animal  fydem  are 
chided  with  greater  perfpicuity  and  removed  with 
increafing  facility.  Improvements  in  navigation 
have  been  equally  great.  1 he  confident  feaman 
now  erodes  an  ocean  of  a thouland  leagues  with 
more  fafety,  than  men  anciently  pafled  a river  of  a 
thoufand  yards.  Guided  by  his  faithful  compafs, 
he  ventures  on  the  pathlefs  deep,  bids  adieu 
to  joyful  {hores,  and  through  awful  billows  in 
company  with  the  dolphin,  the  (hark,  the  whale,  and 
the  fea-lnake,  fearches  for  lands  on  the  other  fide  of 
the  globe.  By  ingenious  traverfings,  the  oppofition 
of  the  winds  is  overcome  and  the  fame  blaft  is  made 
to  drive  along:  vefTels  in  everv  dire&ion.  It  is  from 
hence  that  lands  feparated  from  each  other  by  wide 
and  turbulent  waters  are  united  in  manners,  in 
interefl,  and  in  profperily.  It  is  by  means  of  navi- 
gation we  look  for  the  edablifhment  of  the  gofpel  in 
the  iflands  of  the  earth.  Surely,  Great  Redeemer  ! 
the  ifles  wait  for  thee,  and  the  fhips  of  Tarlhifh  firft, 
to  bring  thy  foils  from  far.  MiiTionaries  upon  the 
ocean  (hall  go  out  with  joy,  weaves  like  mountains 
fliall  break  forth  before  them  into  finging,  and  as 
they  approach  the  remotefl  fliores,  the  trees  of  the 
foreds  (hall  clap  their  hands. 

The  natural  rights  of  men  have  been  more  clearly 
afeertained  and  more  confidently  afferted  than  in 
ages  pad,  and  a revolutionary  fpirit  is  now  gaining 
ground  through  the  whole  province  of  civil  and 
ecclefiadical  inflitution.  Wickedaefs  is  employed 
by  Providence  in  ruining  wickednefs.  Among  the 
powers  of  the  earth  as  in  the  army  of  the  Midianites, 
the  Lord  feems  to  be  fetting  every  man’s  hand 
againd  his  fellow'.  Infidelity  demolidies  fuperdition, 
and  impatience  of  every  redraint  is  the  ruin  of 
tyranny. 

For  feveral  years  pad,  how  has  the  mind  of  man 
been  agitated ! Events  which  anciently  occupied  an 
age,  are  now  accomplidied  in  a day.  Political 

F 


3» 

calculation  is  altogether  defeated,  and  men  {land 
wondering  what  will  be  the  iffue  of  the  extraordinary 
procefs.  As  an  accelerated  velocity  in  matter 
implies  an  approximation  to  the  point  of  attraction, 
fo  the  increafing  rapidity  in  the  motions  of  the 
governments  of  the  earth,  intimates  their  nearnefs  to 
that  flare  of  reft,  when  the  Prince  of  Peace  (hall  fway 
an  univerfal  fceptre.  The  four  grand  monarchies 
are  deftroyed,  in  the  latter  of  which  the  God  of 
heaven  fet  up  a kingdom  which  {hall  never  be 
deftroyed.  The  ftone,  which  brake  in  pieces  the 
image,  compofed  of  the  gold  of  Aflyria,  the  filver  of 
Perfia,  the  brafs  of  Greece,  and  the  iron  of  Rome, 
has  fwelled  into  a mountain  and  is  filling  the  earth. 
Its  progrefs  many  of  the  offended  fons  of  men  are 
ftriving  to  retard  ; but  the  effort  is  as  foolifti  and 
ufelefs  as  the  conduft  of  the  Thracians  in  difcharging 
arrows  at  the  heavens,  becaufe  angry  at  unfeafonable 
{howers.  Stop  the  revolution  of  the  earth,  arreft 
time  in  its  flight,  and  then  try  to  hinder  the  advance 
of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom.  Ilufli  the  roaring  of 
fummer  thunders,  and  then  filence  the  deepening 
groans  of  creation,  waiting  for  the  adoption. 

It  is  a pleafing  prefage  that  a Mission  ary  Spirit 
has  gone  forth  in  the  world.  Among  the  rivers  in 
Afia,  in  the  wilds  of  Africa,  and  on  the  mountains  of 
America,  publifhers  of  falvation  are  to  be  found. 
The  firmament  of  the  church  is  widening  and  new 
flars  are  difplaying  the  new  creation’s  glory. 
Hindoos  are  ceafing  to  worflup  their  Ganges,  and 
idols  are  famiftied.  The  Ethiopian  is  chilled  with 
the  view  of  his  crimes,  and  the  Greenlander  warmed 
with  redeeming  love.  From  the  uttermoft  part  of 
the  earth  have  we  heard  fongs,  even,  glory  to  the 
righteous. 

My  Brethren, 

In  the  interior  of  the  country  we  inhabit,  there 
are  thoufands  of  Indians  who  are  covered  with  grofs 
darknefs.  We  have  brought  our  families  and  our 


39 

manners  to  their  (bores,  let  us  (hew  them,  that  we 
have  brought  with  us  a volume  which  may  prove  a 
light  unto  their  feet  and  a lamp  to  their  paths.  Let 
us  point  them  to  the  mark  of  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  chriftians,  a mark  by  which  they  may 
“ fleer”  with  confidence  through  “ the  wildernefs” 
of  this  perplexing  world. 

Let  neither  their  imagined  virtues*  nor  their  real 
vices  prevent  your  exertions. 

Arelndiansw/jc/erfn/’  Send  the  gofpel  among  them. 
This  will  teach  every  one  how  to  poffefs  his  veffel 
in  fnn&ification  and  honour.  It  will  {hew  to  them  that 
marriage  is  honourable  in  all,  and  the  bed  undefiled; 
but  that  whoremongers  and  adulterers  God  will  judge. 

Are  they  filthy  in  their  manners  and  perfons  ? 
Send  them  the  gofpel.  They  will  learn  from  it  to 
cleanfe  themfelves  from  all  filthinefs  of  flefli  and 
fpirit.  Having  their  hearts  fprinkled  from  an  evil 
confcience,  their  bodies  wall  be  wafhed  as  w’ith  pure 
water.  The  body  will  be  refpe&ed  when  regarded 
as  a temple  for  the  Holy  Ghofl.  Health  and  clean- 
linefs  follow  the  pious  obfervance  of  the  Lord’s  day. 

Are  Indians  drunkards?  Send  the  gofpel  among 
them.  Let  Miflionaries  cry  at  the  door  of  their 
tents.  Take  heed  to  yourfelves,  left  at  any  time 
your  hearts  be  overcharged  with  furfeiting  and 
drunkennefs ! Wo  unto  them  that  rife  up  early  in 
the  morning  that  they  may  follow  ftrong  drink,  that 

* “ It  has  become  fafhionable  of  late  years  for  the  philofophers 
of  Europe  to  celebrate  the  virtues  of  the  favages  of  America. — 
Whether  the  defign  of  their  encomiums  was  to  expofe  Chriftiar.- 
ity  and  depreciate  the  advantages  of  civilization,  I know  not,  but 
they  have  evidently  had  thofe  effects  upon  the  minds  of  weak 
people.”  Dr.  Rush’s  Essays. 

From  the  travels  of  Charlevoix,  Hennepen,  Carver,  &c.  the 
doctor  demonftrates  that  uncleannefs,  najlinefs,  drunkennefs , 
gluttony,  treachery,  cruelty,  id'lenefs,  theft,  gaming,  and  the  degrading 
of  their  women  are  common  vices.  He  concludes  a fhort,  but 
very  inffrudive  effay  on  the  fubjedt  with  faying  ; “ How  great 
is  the  efficacy  of  Chriftianity,  which  by  purifying  the  heart,  renders 
the  practice  of  the  contrary  virtues  natural  and  agreeable  !” 


40 

continue  unto  night,  until  wine  (or  rum)  enflame 
them.  When  they  know  that  drunkennefs  at  laft 
biteth  like  a ferpent  and  (lingeth  like  an  adder,  and 
that  drunkards  (hall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God, 
we  may  expeft  that  by  this  vice,  whole  tribes  will 
be  no  more  deftroyed,  and  that  Indians  will  ceafe 
to  glory  in  their  (hame. 

Are  they  gluttonous?  Send  them  the  gofpel,  and 
their  belly  will  foon  ceale  to  be  their  God.  The 
body  will  be  kept  under,  and  be  brought  into 
fubje&ion.  Affifted  to  put  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift, 
provifion  will  not  be  made  for  the  flefh  to  fulfil  its 
lulls.  They  wiil  ufe  the  "world  as  not  abufing  it. 

Are  Indians  treacherous?  Send  the  gofpel  among 
them,  that  they  may  have  their  converfation  in 
fimplicity  and  godly  fincerity.  It  is  only  by  this 
means  that  with  refpeft  to  public  treaties,  or  private 
dealings,  you  will  be  prevented  from  faying  their 
tongue  is  an  arrow  Jhot  out , it  fpeaketh  deceit : one 
fpeaketh  peaceably  with  his  mouth,  but  in  heart  he 
layeth  wait.  Embracing  the  religion  of  the  king  of 
truth,  they  will  become  true  men. 

Are  they  cruel?  Send  them  the  gofpel!  In  Head  of 
regarding  compaffion  as  effeminacy,  they  will  con- 
fider  it  as  a mark  of  human  greatnefs.  Inftruments 
of  cruelty  fiial!  be  fought  for  in  vain,  in  their  habi- 
tations. Under  the  influence  of  Chriflianity  the 
fealping  knife  and  the  hatchet  will  become  ulelefs, 
and  the  war-hoop  and  death-fong  be  forgotten. 
The  lion  and  the  wolf  flrall  become  gentle  as  the 
kid  or  the  lamb.  That  heart  cannot  be  cruel  in 
which  the  love  of  God  is  (lied  abroad. 

Are  Indians  idle?*  Send  the  gofpel  among  them. 
We  commanded  you,  fay  the  apoftles,  that  if  any 

* “ Their  work  advances  under  their  hand  with  fuch  flownefs, 
that  an  eye  witnefs  compares  it  to  the  imperceptible  progrefs  of 
vegetation.  They  fpend  fo  many  years  in  forming  a canoe,  that 
it  often  begins  to  rot  with  age,  bcfoie  they  finith  it.”  Roiilri  son’s 
America.  / 


41 

would  not  work,  neither  fhould  he  eat.  We  befeech 
you  that  ye  ftudy  to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  your  own 
bufinefs,  and  to  work  with  your  own  hands,  that  ye 
may  walk  honeftly. 

Are  they  dijhonejl ? Send  them  the  gofpel.  Let 
them  know,  that  this  is  the  will  of  God  that  no  man 
go  beyond  or  defraud  his  brother  in  any  matter, 
becaufe  that  the  Lord  is  the  avenger  of  all  fuch. 
Let  him  that  hole,  heal- no  more,  but  rather  let  him 
labour,  working  with  his  hands  the  thing  that  is 
good.  Let  none  fuffer  as  a thief. 

Are  Indians  fond  of  gaming?  Send  the  gofpel 
among  them  ! By  teaching  its  converts  to  come  out 
from  ungodly  company,  to  care  for  them  of  their 
own  houfliold,  and  to  fliun  deceit  and  lying,  it 
deftroys  the  injurious  prattice.  Such  who  beguile 
unftable  fouls,  having  hearts  exercifed  with  covetous 
practices  are  curfed  children.  Spots  they  are  and 
blemifhes,  fporting  themfelves  with  their  own 
deceivings,  who  (hall  receive  the  reward  of  unrighte- 
oufnels. 

Are  they  in  the  habit  of  degrading  their  women? 
Send  them  the  gofpel,  which  fays,  Let  the  hufband 
render  to  the  wife  due  benevolence,  giving  honour 
to  her  as  the  weaker  veffel,  and  as  being  heirs 
together  of  the  grace  of  life.  Let  every  one  of  you 
love  his  wife  even  as  himfelf. 

The  gofpel  is  fuited  to  the  removal  of  the  vices 
which  difgrace  the  Indian  tribes ; and  where  it  is 
received  in  power,  inftead  of  the  brier,  will  come 
up  the  fir-tree,  and  inftead  of  the  thorn,  the  myrtle 
tree.  Inftead  of  uncleannefs,  there  will  be  purity  ; 
inftead  of  drunkennefs,  fobriety;  inftead  of  treachery, 
integrity  ; inftead  of  cruelty,  mercy  ; inftead  of 
indolence,  induftry;  inftead  of  theft,  honefty  ; and 
inftead  of  contempt  for  females,  the  mother,  the 
wife,  the  daughter,  and  the  fifter  will  be  loved  and 
refpected  as  tender,  faithful  friends. 


42 

Th'S  conviftion,  united  with  an  ardent  defire  to 
glorify  God  in  the  exercife  of  Chriftian  benevolence 
towards  the  heathen,  gave  birth  to  the  Philadel- 
phia Missionary  Society*.  This  Society,  while 
it  is  anxious  that  the  heathen  may  hear  the  faithful 
faying,  that  Chrift  Jefus  came  into  the  world  to  fave 
finners;  is  defirous  of  introducing  among  the  Indians 
fome  of  thofe  arts  which  lead  the  way  to  civilization, 
ignorance  of  which  is  an  indireft  auxiliary  to  the 
commiffion  of  various  crimes.  The  introduction  of 
the  loom,  the  forge,  and  the  plough,  of  tame  animals, 
and  of  ufeful  metals  is  contemplated;  that  by  the 
increafe  of  civil  information,  the  wall  of  partition 

* The  Philadelphia  Miflionary  Society,  was  formed  in  the  month 
of  January  1798.  Three  fermons  were  preached  on  the  occafion, 
by  Rev.  Morgan  J.  Rhees.  The  firft  from  Rom.  i.  iy,  16. 
— The  fecond  from  Rom.  x.  12 — 15. — The  third  from  Luke 
xvi.  3 1 . — The  objedt  of  the  firft  dil'courfe  was  to  pourtray  the  cha- 
radter  of  a primitive  Miflionary,  his  commiflion,  and  the  effedt  of 
its  delivery  on  nations  and  on  believing  individuals.  Additional 
motives  were  urged  to  encourage  a million  among  the  American 
heathen.  The  fecond  difeourfe  had  for  its  objedt  to  prove,  that 
God  is  no  refpedter  of  perfons,  that  the  riches  of  his  grace  are 
communicated  to  men  by  means  of  preaching,  and  that  the 
preachers  are  fent  and  fupported  by  men  as  well  as  by  God. 
It  was  concluded  by  enforcing  it  as  a duty,  incumbent  on  every 
Chrillian  to  contribute  towards  teaching  all  nations  the  principles 
of  pure  and  undefiled  religion.  The  third  difeourfe  was  applied 
particularly  to  infidels  and  libertines,  its  principal  objedt  was  to 
Ihewthcfulficiency  of  Revelation.  That  it  contains  ample  evidence 
of  its  truth  to  convince  any  reafonable  creature  who  will  take  the 
pains  to  examine  it  and  that  therefore  we  are  not  to  expedt 
Jehovah  will  raife  any  perfon  from  the  dead,  to  convert  nominal 
Chriftians  or  to  convince  the  heathen  ; that  therefore  it  is  our 
duty  to  fend  meflengers  of  peace  among  them,  that  they  may 
have  Mofes  and  the  prophets,  Chrift  and  his  apofties  to  bear 
teftimony  to  the  truth.  If  they  rejedt,  we  fliall  be  clear  from 
their  blood. 

Since  the  above  period  the  number  of  members  and  the  prof- 
pedts  of  doing  good  have  gradually  increafcd,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
ere  longMiflionarics,  under  their  cheerful  guidance,  and  under  the 
guidance  of  the  God  of  love,  will  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led  forth 
with  peace. 


43 

between  Indians  and  the  United  States  may  be 
broken  down,  and  the  tomahawk  and  the  bayonet 
become  ufelefs. 

Every  inftitution  of  this  nature  merits  patronage  ; 
and  it  becomes  each  individual  to  exercise  his 
influence  for  the  advancement  of  fo  pious  a dcfign. 
Shall  I attempt  to  produce  farther  arguments  to 
excite  you  to  fulfil  the  good  pleafure  of  God  ? Shall 
I remind  you  of  the  prodigious  numbers  of 
fellow  men  who  are  yet  involved  in  ignorance  nd 
mifery  ? Shall  I prels  on  you  the  value  of  the  golpel, 
that  it  confllbs  of  glad  tidings  to  perijhlag  farters  ? 
Shall  I remind  you  of  the  example  of  Jefus  who 
went  about  doing  good,  and  whofe  zeal  for  the 
houfe  of  God  confumed  him  ? Shall  I refer  you  to 
the  holy  apoflles,  who  counted  not  their  lives  dear, 
fo  they  might  fulfil  their  miniibcrial  courfe  ? Shall  I 
prefs  on  you,  that  zeal  for  the  Lord  of  holts  has  lately 
given  rife  to  many  miffionary  focieties,  and  refer  you 
to  Scotland,  to  Germany,  to  England  and  to  New- 
York?  Need  I tell  you  that  careleflhefs  is  guilt, 
and  indolence  ignoble  ? Shall  I point  you  to  nature, 
full  of  labour  all  around  you,  and  invite  reltlefs 
winds,  rolling  tides,  riling  vegetables,  and  revolving 
orbs  to  put  your  inactivity  to  the  blufli  ? Shall  1 
exhibit  the  encouragements  to  fending  miflionaries 
among  the  Indians,  derivable  from  an  Indian’s 
believing  in  the  Great  Spirit  and  in  a future  Jlate; 
from  the  peace  now  fubfifting  between  them  and 
us,  and  from  their  proximity  to  us  ? Shall  I aflert 
the  honor  of  being  fellow-workers  with  God,  the 
pleafure  that  fprings  from  fulfilling  our  duty  and 
doing  good,  and  the  probability  of  luccefs  deducible 
from  the  figns  of  the  times  ? I perluade  myfelf  the 
talk  is  unneceflary.  I perfuade  myfelf  that  you  are 
ready  to  cry  out,  Howr  lhall  we  begin  to  teftify  our 
zeal  ? what  immediate  mealure  lhall  we  adopt  for 
aiding  fo  benevolent  a defign  ? I congratulate  myfelf 
on  being  able  to  aililE  your  pleafures,  in  hopes  of 


44 

feeing  this  evening  a fulfilment  of  that  animating 
prophecy.  They  Avail  bring  their  fiber  and  their 
oold  with  them  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God.  At  the  clofe  of  this  fervice  your  liberality 
•will  have  a fair  opportunity  for  its  exertion.  The 
fociety,  for  which  I have  this  evening  the  honour  to 
plead,  is  weak  ; it  has  implored  the  fatherly  care  of 
Heaven,  and  now  would  welcome  aJliftance  from  you. 
As  yet  ’tis  a little  one,  but  we  truft  the  little  one 
will  become  a thoufand.  In  the  exercife  of  that 
o-enerous  zeal  which  will  give  pleafure  in  death,  an 
expecting  the  Mailer’s  blcffing,  we  hope  to  fee 
mountains  and  hills,  the  Andes  and  the  Alleghany 
break  forth  into  fmging,  and  the  trees  of 
nefs  clap  their  hands  in  gofpel  harmony.  1 he  Lord 
will  liaflen  it  in  his  time. 


THE  END. 


